After Nearly a Year, Prosecutors Bring Charges in Anderson Boot Camp Death

November 28, 2006

Nov. 28, 2006

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
is "cautiously optimistic" about today's announcement by a special
prosecutor that seven Florida boot camp guards and a nurse have
been charged with aggravated manslaughter for their alleged role in
the death of Martin Lee Anderson earlier this year.

Rough handling of Anderson by the guards was videotaped,
sparking protests, resignation of the state's top law enforcement
officer and elimination of the boot camp-style penal system for
juveniles in the state.

"We are cautiously optimistic," said NAACP President & CEO
Bruce S. Gordon. "A positive message is being sent by at least
acknowledging criminal behavior took place in this tragic incident.
This is a start. As this investigation continues, we are hopeful
that the role of the medical examiner's office will also be
considered given the questions surrounding their initial
autopsy."

An initial autopsy by medical examiner Dr. Charles Siebert found
Anderson died of complications of sickle cell trait, a usually
benign blood disorder. A second autopsy by Dr. Vernard Adams, the
medical examiner for Hillsborough County, found Anderson's death
was caused by suffocation due to the guards' actions. Adams said
the suffocation was caused by hands blocking the boy's mouth, as
well as "forced inhalation of ammonia fumes" that caused his vocal
cords to spasm, blocking Anderson's upper airway. The guards
reported that they used ammonia capsules five times on Anderson to
gain his cooperation.

Anderson, 14, collapsed on the exercise yard two hours after
arriving at the Bay County sheriff's camp in Panama City January 5.
Guards said the teen was uncooperative and refused to continue
participating in exercises that were part of the camp's intake
processes. He died early the next morning at Sacred Heart Hospital
in Pensacola.

The NAACP led a march and rally June 3 to press for continued
investigation of the Anderson case and other incidents involving
the deaths of juveniles in custody.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest
civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States
and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their
communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal
opportunity in the public and private sectors.